[caption id="attachment_2680" align="alignleft" width="198"] Two examples of Israelite communities: Top - The Pilgrims of Massachusetts ("The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth", by Jennie Augusta Brownscomb); Bottom - A Jewish community in Central Europe ("In the Shtetl", by Ludwig Knaus)[/caption]
How did the people of God know that it was time to leave Egypt? When Moses and Aaron gave instructions for the first Passover, how did the word get out to the people of Israel and the mixed multitude who joined them that they needed to put the lamb’s blood on their doors to escape the Angel of Death? How did the people get instructions on when to pack and where to assemble for the Exodus? They must have had some kind of communication system to send that news all up and down the Nile Valley, and people must have begun assembling before the Passover happened. How, in the days before the Internet and instantaneous global communication, could they do this?
They did it in the very same way that people have done such things from the beginning of time: they sent the word out through the community. News of each event from the moment of Moses’ return to Pharaoh’s decree expelling Israel from Egypt progressed by word of mouth through established communities in Goshen and elsewhere in Egypt.
Why would we expect our God to do any different in this day when He is rebuilding His nation? When He began regathering our brethren of Judah He worked through Jewish communities which had been established for centuries and which had an identity as Jews and as Israelites. It was in these Jewish communities that the Zionist Movement took root, and through them that the Zionist dream achieved fulfillment.
If this is indeed the time in which He is regathering the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel (Ephraim), then we who are beginning to identify as part of the nation should consider how we can establish communities just as our ancestors did. This is a subject we should discuss and act upon if we are to move into what our Father has promised. Peter Vest, author of the Orthodox Messianic Judaism, is offering his thoughts on the subject. Consider his recent post, “Real vs. Virtual Community”. His thoughts are part of dialogue he and Pete Rambo at natsab have shared in recent days. Pete’s post, “Community and the Regathering of Ephraim”, provides much food for thought and prayer, and considerable inspiration for action!

Today’s passage of Scripture is Genesis 48:3-5 which reads: “And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. 393 more words

There’s a flood of interest already about the upcoming production of Two By Two by the Goshen Players in Goshen, Connecticut! Based on Clifford Odet’s play “The Flowering Peach”, this show depicts how Noah’s world is turned upside down when he receives instructions from God to build an ark! 97 more words

I had a very simple, unremarkable and happy life. And I grew up in a very small town. And so my life was made up of, you know, in the morning going to the river to fetch water – no tap water, and no electricity – and, you know, bathing in the river, and then going to school, and playing soccer afterwards. 658 more words

Goshen students in grades K-6 will attend Newport Schools. The vote passed 78-39 after a motion by Kelly Tracy to change the warrant to read to “permit” students to attend Newport Schools failed. 60 more words